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What is Acid Rain?

Michael Pollick
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Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 32,122
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Although the term acid rain was coined in the early 1850s, around the time of the Industrial Revolution, it didn't become a rallying cry for environmental reform until the late 1960s. The devastating effects of this precipitation on the world's water supply, fish populations, and plant life can be traced back scientifically to the use of fossil fuels in factories. Public demonstrations held in the early 1970s helped bring about major changes in pollution and emission standards. Although the problem still exists worldwide, many companies have taken steps to minimize its root causes.

Acid rain is precipitation that contains traces of pollutants, primarily sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide gases created as fossil fuels like coal or oil burn. Around the time of the Industrial Revolution, large factories began to use coal to power their machinery. As the coal burned, it released large amounts of sulfur and nitrogen gases into the air through smokestack exhaust. These gases would often reach the upper levels of the atmosphere and drift into areas where natural rainclouds regularly formed.

Particles of these highly acidic sulfur and nitrogen gases bond with the natural rain and fall to the ground during storms. Natural rainfall should have a pH level around 5.6, which is mildly acidic but not considered harmful. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide mixes with this rainwater, the pH level can quickly drop below 5.0. In certain areas located near large factories, the level occasionally approaches the acidity of pure vinegar. This is acid rain.

Acid rain does not always occur in the same area as the pollutants that cause it. Once the acidic pollutants leave the smokestack, they are caught up in the natural jet streams and weather fronts of the atmosphere. The sulfur and nitrogen gases might travel for a great distance before encountering rain-producing clouds.

In many cases, this precipitation is often more of a problem for neighboring countries than for those with the pollution-causing factories. Canada, for example, suffers effects of pollutants produced by factories located in New York and New Jersey. Scandinavian countries are plagued by acid rain originating from Russia and China.

The negative effects of acid rain can be seen everywhere. It can kill grasses and other protective ground cover, leading to more incidence of erosion and acidic soil levels. The precipitation can strip away the waxy coating on leaves, leaving trees more vulnerable to fungal damage and dehydration. Fish cannot survive or breed in water with a pH value below 5, which means that this pollution can kill off an entire population of fish.

It can also cause damage to exposed metal and concrete supports, grave markers and historical monuments, and damaged structures can be very costly to repair.

Following the stricter guidelines imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), many factories in the United States have voluntarily installed special scrubbers to filter their emissions. These scrubbers use limestone and other basic chemicals to attract the sulfur particles before they leave the smokestack. In some cases, the resulting compound is sold to other companies as a form of gypsum, which is used to create drywall panels. Some nitrogen oxide still reaches the atmosphere, but it doesn't affect the pH level of rainfall as much as the sulfur dioxide once did.

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Michael Pollick
By Michael Pollick
As a frequent contributor to All Things Nature, Michael Pollick uses his passion for research and writing to cover a wide range of topics. His curiosity drives him to study subjects in-depth, resulting in informative and engaging articles. Prior to becoming a professional writer, Michael honed his skills as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.
Discussion Comments
By turquoise — On Oct 28, 2012

@ysmina- Well, it's not going to eat away at your skin. If you drink water contaminated with acid rain on the other hand, it is very bad for health. At least we have systems to filter and purify water. A lot of animals in nature do drink rain water when they're thirsty. That can't be good, it probably damages their organs.

By donasmrs — On Oct 27, 2012

Acid rain ruins everything, especially cars. Both of our cars have spots on the paint because of acid rain. It's not easy to fix either, I will have to pay a lot of money to have those spots re-painted.

By ysmina — On Oct 26, 2012

When people are exposed to acid rain, what kind of an affect does it have on them?

When I think of acid rain, I think of an extremely dangerous rain that would burn people's skin when it comes into contact with it. I must have gotten this idea from sci-fi and horror films.

But what kind of an effect does acid rain have on our health in general? Is it as bad for us as it is for plants and fish?

By chicada — On Sep 28, 2010

@ Fiorite- I saw a program about cave diving the other day and I learned that hard water is the result of acid rain dissolving limestone. The acid rain is a weak form of carbonic acid, and when it reacts with the limestone, it forms calcium bicarbonate (an aqueous solution). The calcium bicarbonate solution enters the ground water and comes out your shower faucet. When heated, the water evaporates, the carbon dioxide gas dissipates, and all that is left is the carbonate, which forms a ring around the tub. Interesting to know that my hard water is caused by millions of years’ worth of sedimentary rock being dissolved by acid rain.

By Fiorite — On Sep 28, 2010

I saw an acid rain television program (national geographic I think) that said acid rain was largely responsible for the decline in the number of California condors, bald eagles, and other raptor declines. The acid rain, combined with the ingestion of toxic chemicals from coal plant smoke stacks, lead to softer eggshells in these predatory birds. This greatly decreased the population of these birds in the wild.

They are beginning to increase in number now. This is largely due to the clean air act, and the ensuing reduction in air pollution. During the '90s and the first decade of this millennium, the numbers of falcons, bald eagles and other raptors has risen. These animals are beginning to work their way back from the edge of extinction.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
As a frequent contributor to All Things Nature, Michael Pollick uses his passion for research and writing to cover a...
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